Nevada has long been the most accessible state for sports betting in the entire nation. Look back at the history books and you’ll see that sports betting has been allowed here since 1949. However, things were quite different back then, and sports betting wasn’t quite as ethical and regulated as it is today, at least not prior to 1949 where sports betting wasn’t even regulated. Then again, that’s what makes Nevada and Las Vegas such interesting places. To put this into context, that means that Nevada residents have been able to bet on professional sports for over 70 years.
That’s a whole lot longer than other states in the USA! And in 1992, Nevada was given a helping hand by PASPA, the authority that actually prohibited sports betting in any other state in the entire country. But in terms of online sports betting in Nevada, this has always been allowed, there was just never such a need to put the infrastructure in place. With the mass adoption of the internet at the turn of the Century, however, betting brands started to think about making their sports betting offerings available online.
Interestingly, the first mobile betting app in Nevada didn’t launch until 2010, but this is still way before any other state. Big names operate within this state too, as seen with BetMGM, Caesars, Golden Nugget, WynnBet, and many others. This means that to this day, Nevada is still an industry leader in the betting world.
Best Nevada online sports betting sites
- BetMGM
- Caesars
- STN Sportsbook
- Circa Sportsbook
- Rampart Sportsbook
Latest Nevada sports betting news
Nevada Posts Record-High $1.1 Billion Sports Betting Handle in January
Nevada’s Gaming Control Board reported a record $1.109 billion in sports bets placed in January. That number is the sixth-highest total in the United States in the post-PASPA era, and Nevada joined New Jersey and New York as the only three states to report over $1 billion in sports betting handle for the month. As the sports betting industry continues to explode across the country, Nevada still maintains its strong standing as the oldest state with legal sports wagering in the US.
January was the fourth straight month that Nevada had reported over $1 billion in sports betting handle, and it broke the state’s prior record set in October. January’s sports betting handle increased by 9.3% from December and 71.6% year-over-year from January 2021. Nevada still fell short of New York’s total of $1.69 billion in wagers and New Jersey’s $1.35 billion.
Just over 70% of Nevada’s January handle came from online wagering, representing $786.8 million in total wagers. However, sportsbooks held just 1.93% of the online handle for just $15.2 million in revenue. With online operators cutting promotional spending and focusing on profitability, that number should increase in the coming months.
Date: March 9, 2022
Nevada has a fairly long sports betting history, and that’s putting it lightly. More than 70 years of betting activities have taken place in this state, but nowadays, people tend to get more excited about an online game since it’s still evolving. And in light of recent facts and figures surrounding the Nevada sports betting market, we’d say that things are going pretty well. Take October 2021 as a prime example - Nevada became only the second state in the entire country to take in over $1 billion in sports wagers, and that’s for just a single month.
The official total was actually $1.1 billion, which is second only to New Jersey ($1.3 billion), which has a more extensive online betting market than Nevada. And in December, there was more great news for those who are based in Nevada. The NFL announced that Nevada will be the host of the 2024 Super Bowl. We can only imagine the number of punters and sports fans flooding the state when this happens!
Is online sports betting legal in Nevada?
Yes! Nevada online sports betting has always been permitted, it just wasn’t acted upon until 2010 when the first sports betting app went live. With that said, it’s important to stress that sports betting can only be done through a mobile app. This is actually part of the official sports betting legislation in Nevada, which many sports punters aren’t actually aware of. This also removes the possibility of betting through a mainstream desktop site, something which is possible elsewhere.
But while this is the current state of play, punters still need to go and sign up at a physical casino in order to place bets through the associated mobile app. This can be a bit of a pain for Nevada residents, and many complaints have already been raised by the casino operators to the powers that be. For now, however, there has been no movement on the issue.
Where to bet on sports in Nevada?
Now that we’ve answered the question of ‘is online sports betting legal in Nevada’, we’d like to demonstrate what your options are for placing sports bets within the state. Of course, online betting is a possibility, but since Nevada is flooded with physical casinos, you also have the option to place wagers at physical sportsbooks. These are described in greater detail below:
- Mobile apps
As previously stated, you must make wagers via mobile apps instead of desktop sites if you are to engage in online betting. These apps are usually available on both iOS and Android operating systems, and they usually support all major US sports leagues. There tends to be more variety concerning the betting markets on these apps compared with retail sportsbooks too. And for select Nevada sports betting apps, you can also bag a welcome bonus.
- Retail sportsbooks
When it comes to retail sportsbooks in Nevada, it’s all about Las Vegas. This is the largest gambling city not only in the state but in the entire country. The Las Vegas Strip is overflowing with physical casinos that also contain sportsbooks, and they are all in such close proximity that it’s easy to visit any of them - if you are in Vegas that is. And as a matter of fact, you must visit one if you want to ultimately make any online sports bets in this state.
Online sportsbooks available now in Nevada
As you now know, Nevada online sports betting is firmly up and running, as has been the case for over a decade. But despite the immense number of physical sportsbooks located around the state, there hasn’t been an explosion in online brands entering the market. This is partly due to the fact that Nevada has a long tradition of in-person betting, and also because regulations are still a little ‘inflexible’ for new brands to launch. Regardless, we’d still like to detail some of the main online betting sites in Nevada right now:
BetMGM Sportsbook
Since the MGM brand is a huge hit in Nevada, it was always going to be the case that BetMGM went live in this state. Like all of the other brands on this list, you must download the mobile app to place bets via this platform. The app is accessible on Android and iOS, and once you’ve downloaded it, you can go ahead and claim your $10 sign-up bonus. Beyond this, we have a feeling that you’ll love the extensiveness of the BetMGM Sportsbook. You can wager on all top leagues, perform futures bets, access loyalty rewards, and even execute cashouts for select bets.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars is another huge brand out in Nevada, mainly Las Vegas! And moving with the trends, Caesars has established a mobile app for both iOS and Android. This app can be downloaded within minutes, and once you’ve signed up you will be able to get up to $1,250 on Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits + 1000 Reward Credits® as a welcome bonus. This can be redeemed if you lose on your first bet. But in the meantime, you can continue to bet on leagues such as the NBA, NHL, NFL, and others. You will also benefit from hundreds of markets for major events in these leagues, as well as enjoy daily odds boosts to increase your potential returns.
Superbook Sportsbook
The Superbook Sportsbook is a homegrown option, which is why many Nevada residents like it! And if you choose to register at this site, once you’ve bet $100, you will be given a $100 bet bonus. This is essentially a ‘double your money’ incentive, and beyond the welcome bonus, this one is pretty sensational. You can place pre-match and live bets, including moneyline and spread options, and there is even a 10 cent minimum for NHL live betting. As for the odds, you will struggle to find much better at any brand in the state!
Golden Nugget Sportsbook
As you might already know, Golden Nugget is a huge casino based in the desert of Nevada. And over the last few years, Golden Nugget has transitioned online with the launch of a fantastic mobile app for iOS and Android. This app is loaded up with great bonuses, exciting markets, and thousands of sporting events for you to bet on each year. Since Golden Nugget embodies fun betting, you can usually expect boosted odds and exclusive betting options for when big events come to Vegas - including boxing or UFC bouts.
There is even a $250 free bet incentive for brand new customers, which is a competitive offer compared with other sites.
WynnBet Sportsbook
WynnBet is yet another physical sportsbook and casino that has moved with the times and permitted online wagers. The app can be downloaded on both smartphone and tablet devices, and after downloading, you can register and use the Wynnbet Promo code to make the most of a $1,000 risk-free bet. That’s not bad at all, right? You can also enjoy live betting, cashouts, as well as bet builders for premium events via this app. And don’t worry about being rewarded as an existing customer, there are many ways in which to qualify for free bets, profit boosts, and much more.
Boyd Sportsbook
The Boyd Sports app stands out to us for one key reason, it is absolutely fantastic for betting on the races. As you may know already, wagering on the races is big business out in Nevada, therefore, it makes sense that you now get access to the markets right there in your pocket. But it’s not just horse racing that this app supports, for you can also bet on hockey, football, basketball, and many other sports too. The app is crisp, performs well, and hosts a range of powerful features like in-play wagering and early cashouts. Interestingly, and somewhat disappointingly, there is no welcome bonus listed for this app.
Atlantis Sportsbook
Launching through the Atlantis Casino connection, this app is pretty spectacular, we must say. In fact, there are two separate apps that you may download here, one for sports betting and one for betting on the races. Both apps have a slick and user-friendly design, and the odds appear to be extremely competitive compared with others in Nevada. This means that you tend to get a better potential return here than you might get with alternative sportsbooks. With that said, there is a downside - no sign-up offer is available for new customers.
Circa Sportsbook
Although these guys are branded as the ‘Circa Sportsbook’, they are actually part of the Golden Gate Casino umbrella. Believe us, that is a very good thing, which is why the sports betting app has such a great rating from current users. The app first launched back in 2019, and since then, the offerings have become amazingly extensive. Not only does this app support epic markets and odds for top leagues like the NBA and NFL, but the app also hosts some awesome contests that you can compete in each month. This makes it one of the most exciting mobile betting apps in Nevada, in our opinion.
Rampart Sportsbook
Since there is a Rampart Casino in Nevada, these guys didn’t have too much difficulty with launching a Rampart Sportsbook via a mobile app. What we love about this app is that there are frequent and pretty rewarding bonuses for loyal bettors, which kind of makes up for the absence of a sign-up offer. The app seems to offer more creative spread, handicap, and live bets compared with others too, which gives it a nice unique feel. It’s cool that you can bet on mainstream leagues as well as horse and greyhound racing from the app too.
South Point Sportsbook
There has been a lot of hype surrounding the South Point Sportsbook, and understandably so now that we’ve seen the quality of the app. The app can be installed for both iOS and Android devices, and there are more than 10 sports to bet on here. This might not seem like a load, but the depth and coverage for each sport are off the scale. And in terms of the odds, South Point has knocked it out of the park across the board. There are occasional contests that you can take part in each month too, which keeps things exciting.
STN Sportsbook
Finally, we arrive at the STN Sportsbook. Should you choose to download and register with the STN Sportsbook, you can redeem a $100 welcome bonus. This is pretty solid when you consider that welcome bonuses aren’t exactly in rich supply at other sites. And beyond the sign-up incentive, STN Sportsbook boasts live wagering, in-game statistics, weekly bonuses for existing customers, and great odds for most popular sports. For clarification - this app can be downloaded for both Android and iOS on pretty much any smartphone or tablet device.
What about the legal NV online sports betting apps?
You’ve probably noticed from the information above that Nevada sports betting apps are the only platforms available for ‘online betting’ in this state. That’s because of the regulations set out for online betting in general, and it’s not something that has materialized by accident. Then again, since most people have instant internet access via smartphones and tablets these days, this isn’t actually a disadvantage whatsoever. If anything, it’s an advantage, as punters can place bets by simply opening up their smartphones.
With this said, each of the Nevada online sports betting platforms has come to fruition thanks to designated partnerships. Here are the current partnerships in place for this state:
- Westgate Resort - Superbook Sportsbook
- Atlantis Casino - Atlantis Race & Sportsbook
- South Point Casino - South Point Sportsbook
- Rampart Casino - Rampart Sportsbook
- Golden Nugget - Golden Nugget Sportsbook
- Wynn Las Vegas - WynnBet Sportsbook
- Golden Gate Casino - Circa Sportsbook
- MGM Grand - BetMGM Sportsbook
You’ve no doubt noticed that most of the sports betting apps that are live are directly associated with the same underlying brand. That’s just how it tends to work in Nevada since there are so many physical casinos. However, you’ve probably also noticed that there are a number of names missing. That’s because the remaining sites are paired up with 10-20, and sometimes more physical casinos. This means they are not operating under an exclusive partnership.
For clarification, these names include Boyd, STN, and Caesars.
Online sports betting in Nevada - sites that could launch soon
It can always be a little difficult when trying to predict which betting sites could soon be launching in any state. This is especially true in Nevada, where mobile betting is the only option and so many partnerships are already in existence. However, there are a few names that we feel might launch in Nevada before too long, as detailed here:
DraftKings
DraftKings is one of the biggest names for online sports betting in the USA. They are operational in almost every state where sports betting has been legalized. However, DraftKings is still absent from Nevada. The exact reasons for this are unknown. But what we do know is that DraftKings has announced plans to form Nevada sports betting partnerships in 2022.
FanDuel
FanDuel, like DraftKings, was an available online site in Nevada until 2015. However, both weren’t offering sports betting - they were offering daily fantasy sports betting. This was removed from being legal in Nevada, and as a result, FanDuel and DraftKings left the market. But on a more promising note, FanDuel has filed for a sports betting license in Nevada, as confirmed by public reports. This hasn’t yet come through, but we can’t imagine it will take too long.
Treasure Island
Treasure Island was previously live in Nevada, but the mobile site has since been taken down for upgrades, according to reports. The reason for this, we believe, is because Treasure Island is still an independently operating casino in Nevada. This means that they don’t have the quality of infrastructure ready to compete with the bigger brands, at least not from a mobile betting perspective. With that said, it’s clear that Treasure Island does have the right to provide sports betting, which is why we think they will come back into view in 2022.
Other things you should know about online sports betting sites in Nevada
Opening a new sports betting account in Nevada
Now we are arriving at the slightly frustrating part about Nevada online sports betting. Although there is a decent selection of sports betting apps for Nevada residents, you cannot yet just sign up directly through the app. In other sports betting states, this is possible, which gives the registration process a bit of a backdated reputation here. But regardless, facts and facts, and there is only one way that you can successfully set up an online betting account in Nevada.
The way in which you can do this is to visit a physical casino, which must be partnered with an online brand. At the casino, you will need to visit a customer service desk and display your proof of residence and proof of ID. Only then will you be able to register through the associated app, which is a bit of a pain in all honesty.
What kind of welcome bonus can you get with a Nevada sports betting operator?
You’ve probably noticed that welcome bonuses aren’t exactly in rich supply at NV online sports betting sites. We can’t really say why this is, but it does somewhat reduce the generosity of online betting brands in this state. However, a few welcome bonuses still exist, they just aren’t as widely accessible as they are elsewhere. Some sites offer risk-free bets, some offer a no deposit bonus, and some offer a deposit match. These are the most common sign-up offers, and we would recommend Golden Nugget, STN, or WynnBet to grab yours.
Each of these sites has a free bet that you can use after registering, and they aren’t overly complex concerning the redemption process. The actual size of these bonuses varies from $100 to $1,000 too, which makes them pretty substantial in terms of the overall value. With this said, let us detail some of the main sign up offers associated with the online sports betting landscape in general:
Deposit match
Whenever you register with a betting site, you must then deposit funds to make any real money wagers. This goes without saying really, but this is also where some sites step up and give you a bonus just for funding your account. Certain deposit matches can be as high as 100%, which is essentially a way to double your money immediately.
Free bet (bet x receive y)
Free bets, by nature, allow you to take a punt at a market without strictly betting with your own cash. These are sometimes handed out without the need to make a deposit or wager at all, but that’s not the most common way. The most common way is that you must first place an eligible bet in order to unlock your free bet tokens. This is seen with the Superbook Sportsbook where you must wager $100 to receive $100.
Risk-free bet
Finally, risk-free bets are arguably the most common of all sports betting sign-up offers. As the name indicates, a risk-free bet lets you make a wager without worrying about losing your money. That’s because betting sites will then reimburse you if the wager loses, up to a maximum value (as determined by the terms and conditions). At the same time, if you do indeed win this initial wager, you then get to enjoy the winnings.
Betting on the most popular Nevada sports
NFL
When it comes to the NFL in Nevada, it’s all about the Las Vegas Raiders. These guys play their home games at the Allegiant Stadium, which has a capacity of 65,000 spectators. When they do play home games, of course, you can easily go and watch while making a bet from your smartphone. You can place moneyline bets, quarter by quarter bets, and bets on individual players in terms of points scored. The fact that Nevada will host the Super Bowl in 2024 is also very exciting for the NFL in this state in general.
NBA
Interestingly, Nevada does not have a single professional NBA team to speak of. This is unusual since all of the surrounding states do have professional basketball teams. With that said, this doesn’t mean that NBA basketball isn’t one of the most popular sports in the state - it most certainly is. Nevada residents love to wager on NBA games, and the props are magnificent, especially through the top Nevada sports betting apps. Besides NBA basketball, there is also significant interest in NCAA basketball played by various colleges in the state. This is well worth tuning into when March Madness comes around each year.
MLB
Much like the NBA mentioned above, there is no professional MLB team to speak of in Nevada. But that’s not the case for lack of trying! Several individuals have attempted to launch MLB teams from this state, but the logistics and economics haven’t exactly made things easy. All cases of trying to launch a Nevada-based MLB team have failed, but of course, it’s still a top-flight league in the USA. That’s why punters regularly bet on the MLB at retail sportsbooks and online, and the markets are always enticing thanks to so many moving factors in professional baseball games.
NHL
The NHL is the second league in Nevada that actually does have some homegrown interest. At the time of writing, the single team involved in this league is the Vegas Golden Knights. This team hasn’t been overly successful in the NHL, but regardless, it’s still nice to have a home team competing at the highest level. The Golden Knights play a ton of games throughout each season, and you have the option of betting on any one of them at online sportsbooks. Thanks to the popularity of the NHL, certain sites hand out odds boosts, exclusive markets, and bonuses - especially at the time of the Stanley Cup.
MMA
One of the main reasons that MMA (mainly the UFC) is so popular in Nevada is because most of the major fights take place in this state. After all, Las Vegas has long been the home of major fights for both MMA and boxing. DraftKings tends to sponsor plenty of the major MMA fights too, which makes it interesting that DraftKings doesn’t have an online site in Nevada. However, all of the current sports betting apps do cover MMA fights. And in terms of betting, great bonuses, unique markets, and competitive odds can be found at all top sites.
WNBA
In the world of Nevada online sports betting, the WNBA is just one of three professional leagues that have a Nevada-based team that you can wager on. This is actually pretty unique compared with other states, as the WNBA often gets overlooked compared with mainstream sports leagues for men. Of course, this is the female counterpart of the NBA, and yes, Nevada does have a professional team - the Las Vegas Aces. Most major sportsbooks cover their games too, and the markets are just as appealing as they are for the main NBA league.
Boxing
Since we’ve already talked about the MMA fights that take place in Nevada, we couldn’t leave boxing out of the picture. The very fact that plenty of huge boxing fights takes place in Nevada means that this sport is more popular here than elsewhere. Vegas has long been the home of heavyweight boxing bouts, and it has become synonymous with the fight game over the course of several decades. This is then backed up by spectacular bonuses for huge fights through Nevada sports betting apps. You can even have a shot at live betting with boxing, which is easier than other sports since there are regular breaks after each round.
History of Nevada Sports Betting
Sports betting has officially been legal in Nevada since 1949, and this actually included betting at both official and off-track racing venues. Technically speaking, this is also the year in which online sports betting became legal. But of course, ‘online’ didn’t exist back then, which is why Nevada didn’t start to pump out online betting apps until 2010. Let us expand a bit more on this timeline right now:
Before 1949
Stick with us here, for we are about to hit you with a bit of a history lesson. Nevada, more specifically, Las Vegas, was originally run by organized crime groups, namely the Mafia (or so legend has it). These guys flooded their ill-gotten funds into the City of Las Vegas, launching casinos all over the shot for people to gamble. But while casino gaming was perfectly legal prior to this, sports betting wasn’t. However, that didn’t stop the organized crime syndicates from accepting sports wagers anyway!
Prior to 1949, sports bets were certainly placed in Nevada, mainly Las Vegas, and winnings were indeed paid out to punters who were successful. But this time period was also host to some pretty significant problems. The sports betting market was heavily influenced by gangs and some rather unpleasant people, which made it both dangerous and corrupt. That’s why Nevada residents were pretty relieved when the government got involved and created a legal sport betting industry in 1949.
1949 and beyond
As we’ve already stressed, 1949 was the year in which everything changed for Nevada sports betting. State officials decided that an unregulated gambling market wasn’t exactly ideal for the state to be prosperous or even safe! That’s when they stepped in and put legislation in place that would regulate the sports betting industry by handing out licenses to certain providers. Generally speaking, these licenses were issued to casinos that were already operational in Las Vegas, and the only changes they needed to make were to actually open up retail sportsbooks somewhere at their physical location.
Since these casinos were pretty wealthy businesses, this wasn’t a major obstacle, and sportsbooks started to pop up all over the place. At that point, and for decades into the future, Nevada remained the one and only state in the USA that allowed legal sports betting.
1992 - PASPA gifts Nevada a sports betting monopoly
While Nevada was the only state that allowed legal sports betting after 1949, there was nothing stopping other states from getting in on the action. But for whatever reason, most states simply chose to ignore the sports betting market, which meant that Nevada was already the go-to place for betting enthusiasts. Fast forward to 1992, Nevada was given a further boost in this market when PASPA passed legislation that solely permitted sports bets to be placed in this state.
This actually prohibited any other state from setting up any kind of sports betting industry, for it would literally be illegal according to federal law. And as you can see from the description, this gave Nevada a monopoly over sports betting in North America.
2010 - the launch of online sites
Nevada certainly took quite a while to start producing online betting platforms. After all, the internet started to become widely adopted towards the turn of the Century. But Nevada residents would have to wait another 10 years before they could start making online wagers. Then again, there was no risk that they would lose their grip on the sports betting market, for the papers published by PASPA still dictated that Nevada was the one and only state where legal sports bets would be made.
When the first online site launched, however, certain ‘old school’ measures still didn’t change. The laws dictated that people would still need to go and register in-person at a sportsbook prior to placing any online bets. This remains true to this day, which is probably why Nevada is behind other states like New Jersey in terms of the overall appeal for online brands to launch here.